KLIA’s new aerotrain finally launched on July 1 – only to stall mid‑track within 31 hours. It’s an embarrassing return for a system plagued by delays, excuses, and contract dramas.

KLIA’s aerotrain began operating at 10 am on  July 1 after a RM456 million replacement project was finally completed. Painstaking tests included 80 technical trials and emergency drills – and on July 1, the new train system made its triumphant launch.

But just over 30 hours after its high-profile return, the new aerotrain experienced a breakdown. At approximately 5.15pm on July 2, a train stalled mid-route, leaving passengers stranded. MAHB staff had to inspect the train on the track, and passengers were eventually transferred using a second train or rerouted by shuttle bus.

Images and videos shared online showed airport personnel gathered at the scene while others waited for service to resume. The incident wasn’t widely publicised by official channels, but travellers on board confirmed the disruption. For many, it brought back uncomfortable memories of the March 2023 incident, when more than 100 passengers had to walk on the track after a train failure.

The July 2 breakdown is a major embarrassment, coming so soon after the long-awaited relaunch, following years of a project that had already been plagued by shifting timelines, contractor disputes, and public scrutiny.

The project was originally tendered back in 2021 at RM743 million and was due to be operational by July 2024. But slow progress led MAHB to terminate the contract mid‑2023. A replacement consortium was appointed in early 2024, shifting the deadline multiple times – from July 2024 to January 2025, then March, then June. Officials openly admitted the initial projections had been “overambitious.”

Although MAHB has not issued a detailed explanation for the disruption, shuttle bus services have remained in place as a backup while the system continues to stabilise. Airport authorities maintain that safety protocols were followed and that the issue was resolved without incident. Still, the optics of such an early failure are difficult to ignore.

TECHNICAL TEETHING OR SIGN OF WORSE TO COME?

According to reports, officials are investigating and maintaining that system reliability will improve. The new Alstom Innovia APM‑300R trains are fitted with advanced condition monitoring, and MAHB stress-tested the system before launch. But this breakdown so soon after a high‑profile relaunch raises serious questions about the adequacy of testing, commissioning, and contingency planning.

Just two days after the ribbon was cut, the reliability of KLIA’s new aerotrain is already in question. For an airport that aspires to be a regional benchmark ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026, this kind of stumble is exactly what it can least afford.